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Pecha Kucha Night: Detroit

This is a slide from Sean Hages' presentation of collage work. He was one of 10 creatives to present work samples to around 250 people at Pecha Kucha Night: Detroit Volume 3.

Twenty slides. Twenty seconds each.
Pecha Kucha Night crosses the corporate PowerPoint presentation with speed dating. Each presenter displays 20 slides for 20 seconds each; you get six minutes and 40 seconds to perk interest.
The international phenomenon was developed in 2003 by two Tokyo-based architects. The event provides a forum for creatives to meet, network and showcase their work. Through word of mouth and the Internet, Pecha Kucha (which refers to the sound of conversation in Japanese and is pronounced peh-chak-cha) has spread virally to 132 cities worldwide.
Detroit jumped aboard last fall.
The quarterly event is organized by the Emerging Professionals Committee of the American Institute of Architects Detroit chapter and Detroit Synergy, a nonprofit group that organizes events to promote the city. Detroit Make it Here is the official media sponsor.
Anyone interested in sampling what is happening in Detroits creative scene is welcome to attend Pecha Kucha Night: Detroit Volume 4, on May 22 at Detroit Institute of Arts. Tickets are $8 for nonmembers.
If you're interested in being a presenter, click here for details.
Organizers will select 12 compelling presenters, usually from creative fields such as design, architecture, photography and art. The event normally attracts 250 guests.
Detroit Make it Here will post presentations and presenter profiles after every event.

Preroll - Comerica ad for Small Talk;

To view presentations from the Feb. 19 event at the Hard Rock Café Detroit, click on the presenter's name.

Presented: Detroit Creative Corridor  a district of creative businesses, institutions and workers that would run along Woodward Avenue from the New Center area to the river.

What makes your work interesting? The Detroit Creative Corridor is an integrated approach to economic development in Southeast Michigan. Creative industries are key to the transformation of our regions economy, because communities that cultivate and sustain a thriving creative environment attract dynamic employers and talented employees. The growth potential of creative industries is far greater than that of service or manufacturing industries, and Detroit already has a strong asset base to leverage.

What do you like about Detroits creative scene? Diversity, and the fact that its considered an asset.

Whats up next? Ill continue to work at Detroit Renaissance to transform the regions economy and work in my community to raise the visibility of Detroits assets, like strong neighborhoods.

What makes your work interesting? The humor in my collages is designed to be cathartic.

What do you like about Detroits creative scene? There are so many creative, down-to-earth people working as artists in Detroit, but most of them are broke. I think that helps keep them humble and focused.

Whats up next? I am going to be making some guerrilla-style public art in Detroit this summer. Think graffiti without the paint.

What makes your work interesting? I try to offer a unique perspective when looking at flowers or other natural plant life, versus, Wow, heres a rose, or Heres a hyacinth.

What do you like about Detroits creative scene? The sky is the limit and theres room for everyones vision.

Whats up next? I just became a stock artist for Getty Images and I have an application pending with Jupiterimages. I'm applying to galleries for shows that include all kinds of art and not just photography. I'm also on the waiting list for the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair  fingers crossed.

What makes your work interesting? The colors, the people, the stories, the scale and the social situations that everyone can relate to. My art invites the viewers to interact with the painting  feel like theyre having an in intimate conversation with the subjects.

What do you like about Detroits creative scene? Detroit has a marvelous and gritty artistic energy. Its filled with talented and dedicated artists and creative thinkers, who actively pursue their love, while taking advantage of every opportunity to present their work and ideas to the public. And theyre always interested in and supportive of the city and their fellow artists.

What's up next? Right now Im showing in the Scarab Clubs Silver Medal Exhibition. Im also in the Change exhibition in the Work: Detroit gallery at the University of Michigans Detroit Center. On July 1, Ill be the featured artist at the Motor City Brewery.

What makes your work interesting? I keep my crew small and do as much as I can on my own to control the creative process. I always try to incorporate something new or unexpected into each film, like animation, dramatic lighting or unusual set design.

What do you like about Detroits creative scene? I love the explosion of creative activity in industries like music, film and art. Detroit has really begun to put itself back on the map.

What's up next? I am curating screenings of locally made films. Im also working on some new films and guest lecturing at the Detroit Film Theatre.

Job: Research assistant and research director, Lawrence Technological University, College of Architecture and Designcq

Presented: Urban design research called Value Densification.

What makes your work interesting? The goal of Value Densification is to explore how aspects of the post-industrial city can be understood, communicated and leveraged. Well also use technology to reveal data about the city to convince community, political, and business leaders to embrace a broader interpretation of value. Were trying to spark new ways of thinking about and using our urban assets to achieve a more viable cityscape.

What do you like about Detroits creative scene? Detroit is on an international border, and our strong connection with Windsor expands the talent pool and opens further opportunities for collaboration.

What's up next? With the Southwest Detroit Development Collaborative, well be producing design recommendations to help the community envision its social, environmental and economic future. Were also launching a training program, so members can use the interface as a planning and development tool. At the end of March, we are headed to Portland, Ore., to present our design work at the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architectures national conference.

What makes your work interesting? It shares new insight on diversity issues in architecture and design.

What do you like about Detroits creative scene? Unlike cities like New York and Chicago, Detroit needs creative people to till its soil. The potential is unlimited and the spaces to practice are vast. Detroit is the perfect home for any artist, builder, entertainer or professional to make their mark on the world. Its untapped and exploding with space.

Whats up next? Im working on an article that will explain how hip-hop culture is a product of the decisions of architects and planners who developed environments across the U.S. Its for the book Ecologies of Inequality, published by University of Pennsylvania. Im also working on my hip-hop-inspired custom-furniture business, scheduled to launch by the end of the year.

Presented: I just wrote and published a new book: Detroit City of Champions, The Story of the Most Important Season in Detroit Sports History.

What makes your work interesting? In 1935 to 1936, the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings all won their first championship. Also, 1935 was the year Joe Louis rose from an unknown fighter to a superstar. In almost every sport that season, Detroit had a champion and all were celebrated at a banquet on April 18, 1935, called, The Greatest Gathering of Champions Under a Single Roof. The date was declared Champions Day by the governor and Detroit City Council.

What do you like about Detroits creative scene? Everyone is carving their own path, unencumbered by big business. Plus, as everyone knows, so much music and art has come from our city.

Whats up next? Im trying to move to Detroit and set up an office for my publishing company.